Group Urges Urhobos to Ignore Onoge’s Media Smear Campaign of UPU
LAGOS FEBRUARY 24TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Group under the aegis of UPU Youth Wing has urged Urhobo people, both at home and in Diaspora to disregard and ignore publications by Tuesday Onoge and his purported UPU faction, describing them as cheap propaganda and blackmail targeted at distracting the focus of Urhobo people on the attraction of the Urhobo struggle.
The president of the apex Urhobo youth body, Comrade Ovie Igho Anthony made this statement during a press briefing session at the Urhobo Youth Database and Empowerment centre after an enlightenment seminar cum induction ceremony organized by the UPYA Leadership and skill acquisition Institute for beneficiaries of the 2015 scholarship scheme.
In his statement, he described the purported Tuesday Onoge led faction of UPU as a sham and mischief born out of infantile narcissism lazed with incurable adult exuberance which only exist on pages of news papers as it does not have a structural frame work, lacks the capacity to compel obedience of Urhobo people and cannot dictate an acceptable direction for Urhobo nation. He maintained that UPU remains intact with Chief Engr. Joe Orode Omene as the one and only President General of the union and himself, Ovie Igho Anthony as the Youth Wing President World wide.
Reacting to the allegation levied against the President General of the union, Chief Engr Joe Orode Omene, Comrade Anthony described all accusations and alleged news of corruption as mere attempt at giving dog a bad name in other to hang it. He expressed dissatisfaction over what he described as greed and lost for money on the part of Onoge and his cohorts who according to him are supposed to be exemplary to the youths of Urhobo who are often seen as the future leaders .
According to him, there are more vital issues of strategic importance to the existence and survival of Urhobo nation which should attract the focus and attention of Urhobos at the moment rather than the relevance seeking Tuesday Onoge and his sponsored factional script which holds no good for Urhobo nation.
Urhobos are currently being shortchanged at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources and in the ongoing recruitment at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI). Urhobo youths are suffering pains and agony of unemployment.
“ Urhobo youths need scholarship awards to further their education and many more just to mention but a few yet all we see on pages of news papers, are paid adverts worth millions of naira, by faceless groups and individuals congratulating an illusionary factional PG or attacking the President General of Urhobo Progress Union. It is potentially damaging that our leaders could spend such amount of money on frivolous adventure such as that of Tuesday Onoge, Alhaji Namakai (sory, Mumakai) and others which would amount to nothing but an exercise in futility at the expense Urhobo youths who are in dare need of empowerment,” he stated.
Finally, he urged the youths to remain focused and concentrated on the attraction of the gains of a better and brighter Urhobo nation which the Engr. Orode Omene led UPU would deliver to Urhobos in no time.
My quarrel is that the UPU has handled the Urhobo agenda very badly and could have positioned itself better to avoid the split. We are crying undying love for PDP but see the poverty that has come upon our people. We failed 3 times with Ogboru and what leadership has he given to lead the Urhobo cause since he lost his badly handled case at the Supreme Court to prepare us for 2015? He made a very poor choice in the selection of his legal team despite obtaining good advise on how to go about it. Looking at all these factors and our lack of proper representation at the national level can one honestly say that UPU has served us well? I think not, but time will tell.
Uvwiamuge Declaration is not a piece of law must be obeyed therefore it can be altered. Those blaming the UPU led by the President General, Chief Eng. Joe Omene for endorsing Great Ovedje Ogboru are not being sincere with themselves. The APC governorship candidate, Olorugun O’Tega Emerhor was invited by the UPU but said he was outside the country attending to an important thing! What can be more important than becoming a governor of a state in Nigeria? Ogboru is the man to beat in the election, all Urhobos and their neighbours should vote for him. Ogboru has more followers than O’Tega.
It is very funny that an Urhobo old men and full grown adults could afford to humiliate the UPU just for a plate of porridge. I wish to commend the good Urhobo people for refusing to join issue with these Judas Iscariots. I believe this motivating plate of porridge will be finished soon after Apr. 11th., then Onoge and his coupists will be forced to look back. Until then Wadoo.